MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today recommended approval of the design and an authorization to construct a new lacrosse stadium at the existing lacrosse field adjacent to the Multi-sport Facility on the University Park campus. The full board will vote on the recommendation at its meeting on Friday, July 21.

The team of Moody Nolan of Columbus, Ohio, and APArchitects, LLC of Boalsburg designed the project. PJ Dick of Pittsburgh will construct the estimated $8.4 million project. If approved, the Panzer Stadium project will tentatively begin early phases later this month, with completion slated before the fall 2018 semester.

This past May, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics announced $3.55 million in gifts for a new lacrosse stadium on the University Park campus. Ken Panzer, a 1982 Penn State graduate, and his long-time business partner at Douglas Emmett, Jordan Kaplan, committed a gift of $3.55 million to launch construction that will transform the current field into a world-class stadium. A former co-captain of the Penn State men’s lacrosse team, Panzer has a long-standing history of giving to the Nittany Lions’ program.

Additional Penn State lacrosse alumni and donors made gifts for the venue totaling $2 million, bringing the philanthropy total for the project to $5.6 million.

The addition of men’s and women’s lacrosse to the Big Ten Conference in 2015 has shifted the landscape of Division I lacrosse, elevating the Penn State lacrosse programs’ competitiveness and national exposure. Both of the men’s and women’s programs, led by head coaches Jeff Tambroni and Missy Doherty, respectively, were ranked in the Top 10 nationally this past season and participated in their NCAA championships, with the women’s team advancing to the national semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Panzer Stadium will be one of the top lacrosse facilities in the nation and will enable Penn State to host a variety of events, including the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Championship preliminary rounds and youth lacrosse events.

Panzer Stadium, which will be constructed in the same location as the Penn State Lacrosse Field, will include the following features and capabilities:

Expanded stadium-style seating for up to 1,300, significantly growing the permanent seating capacity and options available to fans.

Greater comfort and convenience for fans with permanent concessions, more accessible bathrooms and a ticket office.

A press box above the new seating with full broadcasting capabilities for television and radio facilitating coverage on the Big Ten Network and ESPN.

A multi-purpose room overlooking the field to be used for a variety of lacrosse-related events.

Panzer Stadium will help usher in Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics’ 20-year Facilities Master Plan, announced this past spring, and will build new, as well as revitalize, selected facilities across the University Park campus.